Highfield Junior School Review 2026: High-attaining junior school with strong standards and broad clubs

Highfield Junior School serves Years 3 to 6, in Shortlands, with a clear focus on strong routines, ambitious learning, and pupils who feel confident in school. It is a three-form entry junior school, working closely alongside Highfield Infants’ School so that families experience one consistent primary journey from Reception through Year 6, even though the schools are separate.

Academic outcomes at Key Stage 2 are a headline strength. In the most recent published results a very high proportion of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, with an unusually large share working at the higher standard too. That performance is reflected in the school’s FindMySchool ranking, which places it well above the England average.

For families, the key practical point is the entry point. Because this is a junior school, Year 3 admissions matter most; applications are handled by the London Borough of Bromley, with national dates that families must meet.

This is a school where standards and calm order are treated as everyday expectations, not occasional initiatives. The most recent inspection profile supports that picture, with behaviour and personal development judged at the top level, which typically correlates with classrooms that can get straight to learning and playgrounds where routines are understood.

The leadership context is also clear. Mrs Allison Morris is the headteacher, and a new headteacher appointment took place in January 2019, so the current leadership era is recent enough to have shaped curriculum choices, staff development, and culture, without being so new that families are taking a leap of faith.

Highfield is also part of a wider trust structure. The school joined Nexus Education Schools Trust (NEST) in 2017, which matters because trust-level professional development and shared safeguarding systems can influence how consistent practice feels day to day.

Because it is a junior school, the social dynamic often changes sharply from Year 2 to Year 3. Pupils arrive from infant schools, including the linked infant school, into a larger setting with older peers and more formal expectations. For many children that is energising, particularly those ready for a step up in independence; for others it can be a bigger adjustment than moving within an all-through primary.

Highfield’s Key Stage 2 outcomes are very strong.

• In 2024, 87.67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to an England average of 62%.

• At the higher standard, 45.33% achieved the high standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to an England average of 8%.

• Scaled scores are also high: Reading 110, Mathematics 109, and Grammar, punctuation and spelling 111.

Rankings reinforce the same story. Ranked 509th in England and 4th in Bromley for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits well above England average performance and outperforms the vast majority of schools nationally. In plain English, its ranking places it among the strongest-performing schools in England (top 10%).

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view these results side by side with other Bromley juniors and primaries, rather than relying on anecdote.

The strongest schools at Key Stage 2 tend to share a few traits: clear sequencing of knowledge, disciplined practice in core skills, and teaching that revisits key concepts so pupils remember them long term. Highfield’s inspection improvement point is consistent with that framework. A small number of subjects were identified where teaching did not concentrate tightly enough on the most important concepts, which can make it harder for pupils to retain learning over time. That is a specific, actionable issue, and it also implies the core model is already effective in most areas.

For families, the practical implication is this: pupils who enjoy structure and like knowing exactly what success looks like usually settle quickly. Children who need more time to consolidate may still thrive, but parents should look for evidence of how the school checks understanding and revisits prior learning, particularly outside English and maths.

Computing appears in the inspected “deep dive” subjects, alongside reading, maths and history, which is a useful signal. It suggests leaders are paying attention to breadth, not only the tested core.

Because Highfield is a junior school, transition happens at the end of Year 6. Bromley runs coordinated secondary admissions, and for Year 7 entry in September 2026, applications open on 1 September 2025, close on 31 October 2025, and offers are released on 2 March 2026.

What that means in practice is that families should treat Year 5 as the point where secondary research becomes active: visiting schools, understanding oversubscription criteria, and clarifying whether a grammar, faith-based, or comprehensive route fits the child. If you are moving into the area, it is also worth checking travel time and rail or bus links, since Bromley families often balance school preference with commute realism.

Highfield itself publishes general transition and parent information, but where secondary destinations are not published as numbers, parents are better served by focusing on the admissions criteria of likely secondary choices, and how those criteria interact with their address.

The most important detail is the Year 3 entry route. Highfield Junior School admits pupils at age 7, and applications are not made directly to the school. Bromley coordinates the process.

For September 2026 Year 3 entry, the council states:

• Applications open: 1 September 2025

• National closing date: 15 January 2026

• National offer date: 16 April 2026

For families relying on distance-based criteria in any Bromley admissions process, precision matters. Use the FindMySchool Map Search to check your exact distance to the school gates and to sanity-check assumptions before you commit to a move. Even when a school has historically admitted from a particular radius, patterns shift as cohorts and local demand change.

Published demand and distance figures are not provided for this school, so parents should treat competitiveness as an open question and confirm it via Bromley’s admissions guidance and the school’s published arrangements.

A strong academic profile only works if pupils feel safe, known, and able to focus. The latest inspection profile aligns with that expectation. Pupils report feeling safe and staff training and recruitment checks are treated as a serious leadership responsibility.

The fact that personal development is judged at the top level also matters at junior age. It usually reflects consistent expectations about relationships, respectful behaviour, and opportunities for responsibility, which can be particularly valuable for pupils arriving into Year 3 and learning how to manage a larger setting.

Highfield offers a notably varied clubs programme, with a blend of sport, coding, and languages that goes beyond the standard set.

Examples published by the school include:

• Jam Coding for Years 3 and 4, and for Years 5 and 6

• Korfball, lacrosse, and hockey

• Jujitsu and taekwondo

• Gymnastics, tennis, and athletics and basketball

• Spanish club and street dance

The implication for families is straightforward. Pupils with a clear interest, whether that is coding, a less common sport, or learning a language, can find a “hook” that makes school feel personally meaningful, not only academically demanding. It also helps children build friendships quickly when they join in Year 3, because clubs create cross-class social groups.

For music, the school states that instrumental lessons are available through Bromley Youth Music Trust, which can be helpful for families who want a structured pathway without arranging everything privately.

Highfield publishes term dates for the current academic cycle, which helps families plan childcare and work commitments.

Wraparound care is offered via the Stars Before and After School Club, although the specific daily timings were not consistently accessible in the sources reviewed. Parents should confirm the current session times and booking approach directly via the school’s parent information.

For travel, this is a Shortlands location within Bromley; many families will combine walking, cycling, or a short rail connection depending on where they live. It is worth checking the gate-to-gate route at drop-off time, as local congestion patterns can materially affect punctuality.

• Junior entry point at Year 3. Moving into a junior school can feel like a bigger step than staying within a primary, especially for children who are younger in the year group. It is sensible to focus on transition support and routines when visiting and asking questions.

• Very high attainment can bring pressure. Strong outcomes are a clear positive, but they can also create a culture where pupils are conscious of performance. Families should consider whether their child responds well to challenge and structured expectations.

• Curriculum consistency outside the core. The most recent inspection noted that, in a small number of subjects, teaching focus did not always centre on the most important concepts for long-term retention. Parents who prioritise breadth should ask how leaders have addressed this point since the inspection.

Highfield Junior School combines very strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with a school culture that places a premium on orderly learning and confident behaviour. It suits families who want a clear step up in independence from Year 3, and whose child is likely to thrive with structure and high expectations. The main challenge is admission planning, because junior entry is coordinated and date-driven; families need to be organised early and realistic about the criteria that will apply.